Serial Killers Flashcards
Homicide
73% of males and 66% females have homicidal fantasies, 30% males say they frequently fantasize
not much differentiates murderers from other violent offenders (only 6 of 66 social factors), but they carry more weapons, sell more drugs, juvie delinquents, have more learning probs, ^ black, family on welfare
murderers have 9% amygdala vol reduction
Serial Killers: Basic Characteristics
86% male (similar to 1 off homicides), SES is varied, 82% white (dif from reg homicide, which is more 50/50)
age is late 20s/early 30s (dif from usual 19-24 for violence), bc teens can’t plan this -> prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed and serial killers need full planning abilities
victims: women, then prostitutes, then men, then elderly (so vulnerable pops)
550 since 1900, each kills 8-11 on avg, about 36 are active at any given time
Case Studies
Kuklinski: serial killer, killed over 100 people, was happily married and a big family man -> so these guys aren’t always isolated
Kip Kinkel: 15 years old, saw therapist bc he had a fascination w guns, sis was v successful and he had depression, taken off meds. dad gave him gun, he was expelled for having it in his locker, he had a hallucination to kill dad so he did, when mom came home he told her ily and killed her, then went to school the next day and shot people. brain scan: orbitofrontal has holes
Serial Killers: Typology
Visionary: inner voice tells them they have a mission to cleanse world of a certain group of people
Mission Oriented: wanting to tear up society, kill all homosexuals or prostitutes
Hedonistic: most common, thrill seekers, psychopaths
Power/Control: want complete control over others
visionary/mission oriented more likely for scz/asd, hedonistic/power more likely for psychopaths
Serial/Mass Killers: Causes
28% ASD, 21% previous head injury, of those w ASD and HI, 55% had psychosocial stressors
Mass - Spree Killers
Mass: 3+ people in one location within hours
Spree: 2 locations, can happen over days or weeks
characteristics: white males, have sense of being wronged, fascination w guns, high suicide rates, late 20s, ~5 victims
teen vs adult: depression/psychosis high in both, more teens know victims, teens more likely to do morning (explained bc teens do it at school usually)
